Counter



P 26, 1944- H. B. VROOM 2,358,780

COUNTER Filed July 5, 1941 Patented Sept. 26, 1944 COUNTER Harold B. Vroom,

Hartford, Conn, assignor to Veeder-Root Incorporated, Hartford, Coma, a corporation of Connecticut Application Julyi 5, 1941, Serial No. 401,061

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to counters and more particularly to resettable counters oi the type utilizing a plurality of numeral wheels of successively higher order.

An object of the present invention is to provide in counters of the above-indicated type improved means for preventing the overthrow of a wheel of higher order upon the resetting of the wheels to zero.

Another object is to provide a counter of the above-indicated type wherein there are utilized one-piece molded plastic wheels, which wheels are so constructed as to include supports for the ratchet pawls, reset pawl, non-overthrow pawl. and the combined driven searand ratchet wheel, and wherein all of these parts may be readily assembled into a unit.

A still further object is to provide in counters of the above-indicated type an improved member comprising a driven gear and ratchet wheel and which is so constructed as to permit its ready mounting onto the numeral wheel.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination. of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 is a view of a counter embodying the invention herein and wherein there are shown two numeral wheels of successively higher order; it being understood, however, that any number of numeral wheels can be used;'

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of that side of one of the numeral wheels which carries the nonoverthrow and reset pawls;

Fig. 3 is a view of the other side of the numeral wheel and shows the combined driven gear and ratchet wheel in assembled position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the driven gear and ratchet wheel removed;

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 8-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of non-overthrow pawl.

Referring to the drawing, the counter comprises generally a resetting shaft A upon which there is rotatably mounted a plurality of numeral wheels B of successively higher order. Associated with each order wheel is a combined driven gear and ratchet wheel C; that associated with the lower order wheel being rotated by drive means D and that associated with the higher order wheel by a transfer pinion E. Each driven gear and ratchet wheel C is connected through ratchet pawls F to its associated wheel whereby when operated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed from the right in Fig. 1)' the wheels are advanced in a counting direction, whereas when the wheels are advanced in the same direction by rotation of the reset shaft A, they rotate relative to the driven gears and ratchet wheels C. To obtain rotation of the wheels by the reset shalt, each carries a reset pawl G, and to prevent overthrow of the wheel or wheels, if more than one are used, of higher order, each wheel of lower order carries a stop or non-overthrow pawl H.

More specifically, each numeral wheel B is a one-piece plastic molding and is so constructed that it provides the support for the reset pawl G, non-overthrow pawl H, ratchet pawls F, and the driven gear and ratchet wheel 0, all of which may be assembled thereon into a complete order unit. As best seen in Fig. 5, the numeral wheel is cupshaped having a hub l2 supporting at the left end (Fig. 5) a radially extending discoidal disk H, which disk supports on its outer peripheral edge a rim It extending toward the right end of the hub [2. The hub i2 further includes an elongated bore it which is enlarged at one end to provide a bearing 20 for receiving the adjacent end of the hub of the next higher order wheel, as will hereinafter be apparent.

There is further formed in the discoidal element id of the wheel diametrically oppositely dis-=- posed, symmetrical recesses 22 and 24 adapted to respectively receive and hold the non-overthrow pawl H and reset pawl (3. As best seen in Fig. 2, the recess 22 includes a bottom plate 26 which is substantially triangular inshape, and radial side walls 30 extending at equal angles from the base wall 28 and terminating at a slot 32 provided in the hub at the journal 20. Each side wall 30 of the recess is further provided with an inwardly extending positioning tab 34 which functions to maintain in place the non-overthrow pawl H and a U-shaped spring 36 which normally pivots the pawl to a position where its inner end 38 extends through the slot 32 for engagement with the nested or telescoped hub portion of the next higher order wheel.

The oppositely disposed recess 24 is formed in like manner to the recess 22, and like parts have been given like numerals with the sufflx a. The recess 24, however, lies in a plane parallel to, but

spaced inwardly from the recess 22 (see Fig. 5),

a base wall 28,

and the inner end of the reset pawl G extends through a slot 413 in the bore and to the right of the Journal 20 to normally engage the reset shaft A.

The face of the disk it further has formed thereon a circumferential locking shoulder 52 having a single notch 56 in alignment with a single notch as of a two-tooth transfer gear d8 which cooperate with the transfer pinion E to effect a transfer of the next higher order wheel upon predetermined rotation of the lower wheel.

Referring now to that side of the wheel shown in Fig. 3, the hub i 2 extends substantially beyond the plane of the peripheral edge of the rim it to provide a tubular extension 50 for supporting the combined driven gear and ratchet wheel C and ioumalling in the bearing 20 of the next lower order wheel. Also formed integral with the hub and diametrically opposite one another are a pa r of pillars 52 which terminate short of the tubular extension 50 and are provided with openings for receiving the pivot pins 56 of the ratchet pawls F.

Each of the pawls F is normally pivoted in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 58, and the spring of each pawl also functions to retain the spring of the other pawl in position. To accomplish this, each spring 58 is substantially C- shaped, having at one end an inturned lip 60 receivable within a slot G2 in the hub I2. The spring then follows the contour of the hub throughout substantially half of the hub diameter; then extends above the pivot of the pawl; and then extends downwardly with its opposite end engaged to a laterally extending lug 66 adjacent the driving end of the pawl F, and normally tends to bias the pawl in a counterclockwise direction. With the spring 58 so constructed, when the inner ends are anchored to the hub at diametrically opposite points, each spring overlies the anchored end of the other and maintains the opposite spring in position without the necessity of any permanent connection.

In order to further facilitate the assembly of the pawls F and limit their rotation, each includes a stop 66 extending from the pivot 55 opposite to the driving end whereby when the springs pivot the pawls, the stops will engage the hub and limit the pivotal movement. In this way, the pawls and springs may be readily mounted and will be held in position to permit the ready mounting of the drive gear C.

Referring now to the member C, this may be made from a single metal stamping and is provided with a central circumferential collar 6t to journal it onto the tubular extension Fit of the hub 82. Also stamped out from the web in of the disk and offset to lie in a plane to the same side as the collar 68 is a peripheral rim 1? formed on its outer edge with gear teeth 7d and on its inner edge with ratchet teeth 16.

With the member so made, when positioned onto the hub of the numeral wheel the ratchet teeth 16 lie in the same plane as the ratchet pawls F, whereby the springs 58 will urge these pawls into engagement with the ratchet teeth, and the member C also functions to hold the pawls in proper assembled position. As seen in Fig. '3, upon rotation of the member C in a counterclockwise direction the ratchet teeth and pawls will positively engage, and thus the numeral wheel will be simultaneously rotated. However, upon rotation of the numeral wheels in a like direction by the reset shaft, the pawls Will ride will rotate as a unit.

assaveo over the ratchet teeth, permitting the wheel to rotate relative thereto.

With the numeral wheels and associated parts constructed and assembled in the manner disclosed, each complete unit may be successively mounted onto the reset shaft, whereupon the portion of the tubular extension 59 of the hub of one wheel will telescope into the bearing 20 of the next adjacent wheel. It will be noted that the nested portion of the tubular extension St has cut therein a U-shaped notch 18 which likewise will be positioned in the bearing 20 and will periodically come into alignment with the slot 32 to permit the entrance therein of the nonoverthrow pawl 38. The trailing edge of this notch constitutes a stop shoulder. As the pawl is carried by a lower order wheel, it will, during a counting operation, be cammed out oi! the notch 18 as the lower order wheel continues to rotate, whereas when the higher order wheel rotates relative to the lower order wheel, the pawl, upon entering the notch 18, will function as a stop.

' Considering now the operation of the parts when the units are assembled, upon rotation of the drive means D the member C of the lowest order unit will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed from the right in Fig. 1) whereupon the ratchet teeth it will engage the ratchet pawls F to simultaneously rotate the numeral wheel. During initial rotation, the locking shoulder 42 will normally span two of the wide teeth of the transfer pinion E until the notch 44 and two-tooth drive gear 48 cooperate with the pinion to advance it one step, whereupon the combined driven gear and ratchet wheel C of the next higher order wheel will also be advanced one step and, through the ratchet pawls, advance the higher numeral wheel one step.

Upon a resetting operation, the shaft A is rotated in the same direction as the wheels rotate during a counting operation, and in order to pick up the numeral wheels the shaft is provided with a longitudinal V groove into which the reset pawl G of each wheel will be pressed upon the groove 80 coming into alignment with the slot M in the hub i2, whereupon the wheel and shaft In like manner, during the reset operation the notch 18 of the tubular extension 50 of a higher order wheel will become aligned with the slot 32, whereupon the nonoverthrow pawl H will be spring pressed into the notch to prevent overthrow of the higher order wheel. The slot 32 and the notch 18 are so aligned that this will occur when the zero of the higher order wheel is in alignment with the zero of the lower order wheel. If desired, means such as shown in the copending application of Edward A. Slye, Serial No. 716,696, now Patent No. 2,264,557, issued December 2, 1941, may also be included for operating thereset shaft and positively stopping the lowest order wheel at zero.

Referring now to Fig. '7, there is shown a modifled type of non-overthrow pawl comprising a substantially V-s'haped spring 82 corresponding in contour to the recess 22 and having one leg terminating in a lateral extension 8% adapted to enter the notch it of the next higher order wheel. Preferably, the contour of extension 86 corresponds to that of the reset shaft A and is of such length that it will span the reset shaft groove 80 to thereby prevent its being urged into the reset shaft groove during operation of the counter.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter 01' language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a counter of the character described, a reset shaft, a counter wheel of lower order and a counter wheel of higher order journaled on said shaft, each of said wheels having a hub provided with a bore for receiving said shaft, the hub of the wheel of higher order having a tubular extension projecting into the wheel of lower order, said extension having a notch the trailing edge of which constitutes a stop shoulder, and a nonoverthrow pawl carried by the wheel of lower order adapted to extend into said notch and engage said stop shoulder when the wheel of higher order is in zero alignment with the wheel of lower order upon a resetting operation.

2. In a. counter of the character described, a reset shaft, a counter wheel of lower order and a counter wheel of higher order journaled on said shaft, each of said wheels having a hub provided with a bore for receiving said shaft, the wheel of lower order having an enlarged bore at one end and the hub of the wheel of higher order having a tubular extension projecting into said enlarged bore, said extension being provided with a notch the trailing edge of which constitutes a stop shoulder, and a pawl pivoted in the wheel of lower order and extending into said enlarged bore and engageable with said stop shoulder when the wheel of higher order i in zero alignment with tltiie wheel of lower order upon a resetting opera on.

3. In a counter of the character described, a reset shaft, a counter wheel of lower order and a counter wheel of higher order Journaled on said shaft, each of said wheels having a hub provided with a bore for accommodating said shaft, the bore of the wheel of lower order having a counterbore at one end and the hub of the wheel of higher order having an extension engaging in said counterbore and provided with a notch one edge of which constitutes a stop shoulder, the wheel of lower order having a recess leading to said counterbore, and a spring pressed nonoverthrow pawl pivoted in said recess and adapted to project into said notch and engage the stop shoulder thereof when the wheel of higher order is brought into zero alignment with the wheel of lower order during a resetting operation.

4. In a counter of the character described, a reset shaft provided with a reset groove, numeral wheels of successive orders Journaled on said shaft and each having a hub Journaled on the shaft and a disk portion extending from the hub, each hub having a tubular extension at one end provided with a. notch one edge of which constitutes a stop shoulder, each hub having a through bore provided with an enlarged bore adapted to receive the tubular extension of a next adjacent wheel, a recess in the disk opening into said enlarged bore, a spring pressed non-overthrow pawl pivoted in each recess adapt ed to cooperate with the tubular extension of the hub of the next adjacent wheel, a second recess in each disk portion of the wheel located oppositely to, and spaced inwardly of, said first recess and opening into the through bore, and a spring pressed reset pawl pivoted in said second recess and cooperating with said reset shaft.

HAROLD B. VROOM.

portion of each wheel 

